Low-payroll Astros lead Angels where it counts: standings

The Los Angeles Angels opened the 2013 season with a $137 million payroll. The Astros started the year with an active payroll of $20 million. Heading into the Angels’ series finale Thursday against Oakland, though, the Astros had a half-game American League West lead over Los Angeles, which was surprisingly in last place.

Talk of the Astros’ payroll disparity with the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball will continue throughout the season. But with his suddenly hot-hitting team about to play its fourth West Coast road game during a 10-day trip, manager Bo Porter had no time for money chatter.

“Every competition that I know of, when the game starts, the score’s 0-0,” Porter said. “No one takes into account the back of your baseball card, how much money you make. The score starts 0-0. And the team that’s going to win is the team that plays the best that night.”